#Context anchoring failure

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

teal jayBOT
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Reported by @tender shore

Bug Report: Context anchoring failure
`Steps to Reproduce`
  1. Establish a multi-step technical workflow with constraints (e.g., layered painting process)
  2. Continue conversation over multiple iterations refining system state
  3. Introduce a localized condition (e.g., partial softness in specific zones)
  4. Observe assistant response
  5. Assistant incorrectly generalizes local condition to global system state
`Expected Result`

Assistant should maintain persistent context across the entire conversation and reconstruct system state using full history, preserving:

  • user-defined constraints
  • prior validated conclusions
  • established workflow sequence
    Responses should remain consistent with the previously confirmed system state.
`Actual Result`

Assistant frequently:

  • anchors to the most recent message instead of full context
  • introduces incorrect assumptions (e.g., treating localized conditions as global)
  • drifts from previously established workflow
  • provides generic or misaligned advice inconsistent with prior state

This results in:

  • repeated corrections by user
  • breakdown of system-level reasoning
  • loss of trust in continuity
`Environment`

Android ChatGPT 1.2026.111 (26)

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Additional Information

Please provide relevant details to help resolve the issue, such as:

  • ChatGPT Shared Link (if applicable).
  • Screenshots or videos demonstrating the problem.

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tender shore
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I created a custom GPT
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69a05da2fcf481918f31ecfafeedc23c-the-fixer

But this issue came after a recent Android app update. It improved with the latest update, but still makes really bad assumptions that will set off a cascade of issues if the assumption drift is not caught by the user.

ChatGPT
ChatGPT - The Fixer

This is a structured root-cause analysis engine. It generates mechanism-based hypotheses, evaluates tiered evidence, and updates conclusions with new information or files uploaded

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Generated report by in the conversation

BUG REPORT

Summary:
Assistant exhibits context anchoring failure, reconstructing system state from partial or recent messages instead of full conversation history, leading to incorrect assumptions and inconsistent reasoning.

Expected Behavior:
Assistant should maintain persistent context across the entire conversation and reconstruct system state using full history, preserving:

  • user-defined constraints
  • prior validated conclusions
  • established workflow sequence

Responses should remain consistent with previously confirmed system state.

Actual Behavior:
Assistant frequently:

  • anchors to the most recent message instead of full context
  • introduces incorrect assumptions (e.g., treating localized conditions as global)
  • drifts from previously established workflow
  • provides generic or misaligned advice inconsistent with prior state

This results in:

  • repeated corrections by user
  • breakdown of system-level reasoning
  • loss of trust in continuity

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Establish a multi-step technical workflow with constraints (e.g., layered painting process)
  2. Continue conversation over multiple iterations refining system state
  3. Introduce a localized condition (e.g., partial softness in specific zones)
  4. Observe assistant response
  5. Assistant incorrectly generalizes local condition to global system state

Environment:

  • Platform: ChatGPT (mobile app)
  • Model: GPT-5.3 (The Fixer configuration)
  • Context length: Extended multi-turn conversation
  • Domain: Technical process control (painting / coating systems)

Frequency:

  • Frequent (especially in longer threads with evolving state)

Severity:

  • High
  • Impacts correctness of guidance and system-level reasoning

Attachments:
None necessary

Additional Notes:
Primary failure mode:
→ Context truncation / anchoring to latest state

Impact:

  • Breaks constraint persistence
  • Violates system state precedence
  • Forces user to repeatedly restate conditions

Observed improvement after update:

  • Reduced drift
  • Better state continuity
  • More consistent alignment with user model

However:

  • Residual anchoring errors still occur under complex state conditions
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I should probably mention that I am in beta too...